Empowering Change: Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit

People living with paralysis encounter barriers in many aspects of their lives. Medical equipment critical for preventative care is often inaccessible. Wheelchairs are routinely lost and damaged on airline flights. Affordable, accessible housing is hard to find. And a lack of funding and resources for caregivers puts a strain on thousands of individuals and their families across the country.

National organizations like the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation lead the charge in advocating for policies that better protect and support people with disabilities, but the efforts made by individual community members are equally critical.

The Reeve Foundation, with collaboration and support from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), recently published “Empowering Change: Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit,” a comprehensive guide to effective advocacy. Written for both longtime advocates and those new to the disability community, the booklet provides a roadmap for any individual hoping to drive meaningful policy change.

Topics covered include how to track legislation and engage with lawmakers, the importance of sharing personal experiences, and raising awareness through social media posts. Key policy issues affecting community members, such as housing, travel and caregiving, are highlighted alongside letter templates and suggested phone scripts that can provide a starting point for those new to outreach.

The booklet also features information about the Regional Champions Program, a cornerstone of Reeve’s advocacy efforts. The program, currently in 36 states and the District of Columbia, is comprised of more than a hundred community members living with spinal cord injuries and other types of paralysis, their loved ones and caregivers.

Jamie Clendening, a Regional Champion in Pennsylvania who was born with spina bifida and scoliosis, regularly writes letters to Congress and hosts town hall meetings in her community.

“Helping others through tough times and improving quality of life for those with mobility challenges – that’s what I’m here to do,” she says.

"Empowering Change: Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit," can be downloaded directly from the National Paralysis Resource Center website here. Free print copies are also available, along with information about the Regional Champions Program, by contacting an Information Specialist at www.ChristopherReeve.org/Ask or by calling 1-800-539-7309.